The NBA’s new Player Participation Policy is designed to create the best possible product for the fans, commissioner Adam Silver told reporters, including Steve Aschburner of NBA.com, at a press conference Wednesday.
The guidelines, which were approved on Wednesday by the Board of Governors, were pursued by “everyone in the league,” Silver said. That includes owners, management, coaches, the NBPA and some individual players. They’re focused on producing a better experience for paying customers at the arenas and more reliability for media rights holders.
“This is ultimately about the fans,” Silver said. “And that we’ve taken this (load management) too far. This is an acknowledgment that it has gotten away from us a bit.”
Silver has been working for years to overcome the problem of the league’s best players appearing in fewer and fewer games. Under the PPP, teams will be subject to hefty fines if they violate the policy by giving excess rest to their stars, who are defined as anyone who has made an All-Star or All-NBA team during the previous three seasons.
“That doesn’t mean we were turning the clock back, that players are expected to play through injuries or that players never need rest,” Silver said. “But there’s a statement of a principle in this league that, if you’re a healthy player, you’re going to play.”
There’s more from Silver’s press conference:
- The commissioner acknowledged that the new in-season tournament, which will debut this fall, may take a while to resonate, Aschburner adds. Silver added the league is committed to a long-term approach with the event. “It’s a multi-season issue, to the extent we’re looking to create a new tradition,” he said. “… If we’re seeing early indications of success, we’re going to see a little ratcheted-up intensity.”
- Silver repeated his distaste for trade demands like the ones issued this summer by Damian Lillard and James Harden, per Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel. Although the Trail Blazers and Sixers haven’t made much progress on moving their unhappy stars, Silver doesn’t believe the public declarations are good for the league. “In terms of trade demands, of course, don’t like them,” Silver said. “As a league, want players and teams to honor their contracts. And I’m watching both the situation in Portland and Philadelphia, and hope they get worked out to the satisfaction of everyone before the season starts. And I’m glad that things seem to have settled down somewhat, at least in terms of public discourse.”
- Silver said the league won’t do anything to force the sale of the Trail Blazers, relays TV station KGW8. When Paul Allen died in 2018, his will stipulated that the parts of his estate, including the NBA team, must be sold. However, Silver complimented Paul’s sister, Jody Allen, for running the team in “a first-class manner.”
That last statement is hilarious.
Why? Do you know her?
No, not personally. But I’ve seen enough of what has happened to the franchise she owns ever since the Blazers made it to the WCF. Nothing but failure.
Yeah that is hilarious. Silver is a joke making jokes
Try an injured list with a minimum number of games missed, helloooooo, duh
Likely not a viable solution. These players resting for “load management” probably wouldn’t mind the extra rest as long as they’re getting paid.
10 years to late silver. Fire this joke. He’s making it WWE out there
No sitting or resting at all. Can’t play 82 games then be fined and send that money to the homeless
The only way to combat load management, is to dock pay for players not playing even if it’s an injury. Maybe give them like a certain amount of games, like sick days. Beyond that either play or don’t get paid.
LeBron created resting, flopping and star teaming up. How is he considered a top player all time. He’s number 5 on my list
Couple things here –
“They’re focused on producing a better experience for paying customers at the arenas and more reliability for media rights holders”
While this isn’t a lie it’s also not the whole truth. Much more of this has to do with media rights and TNT/ESPN getting pissed off that they have to show games that nobody has an interest in because stars aren’t playing than it does with little Timmy seeing his favorite player. But technically Turner and Disney are paying customers so semantics be damned.
“That doesn’t mean we were turning the clock back, that players are expected to play through injuries or that players never need rest”
So with these rules in place and the new rules about eligibility for awards, the NBA is doing its best to force players into playing through injuries if they want notoriety which is far and away the 2nd most valuable thing an NBA player can have next to a signed contract. Its coded as a choice but the reality of the situation is – if you want a shoe deal, you will play through injury (not very good for the longevity of these stars and to the point the league as a whole)
“In terms of trade demands, of course, don’t like them. As a league, want players and teams to honor their contracts”
You cannot be serious. It is comical that he threw in “and teams” when mentioning this fabled idea of “honoring” contracts. When, ever, in the history of the league, has a franchise been expected to “honor” their side of a contract agreement? Never. Never, ever, not once, zilch, nada. Again more media lip service by calling out players and saving his behind with the PA by also saying teams need to honor contracts in a very passive way.
Silver complimented Jody Allen for running the team in “a first-class manner”
Okay I just had to put this in here. If you didn’t think you were listening to the biggest crock of you know what before this statement, it was pretty blatant after that.